COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED TO ROLF OLSON

UNCLAS PRISTINA 000257 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC MW MONTENEGRO PREF SR YI ZL SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED TO ROLF OLSON REF: SECSTATE 42722 ¶1. US Office Pristina welcomes and grants country clearance to PRM/ECA Program Officer, Rolf Olson to visit Pristina March 26-29, 2006. The purpose of the visit is to examine the current environment for minority returnees in Kosovo and to meet with UNHCR, NGO partners, UNMIK, and PISG officials on returns initiatives and current assistance efforts. Control officer will be Deputy Econ/Pol Chief David Whiddon, who can be reached at: office 381-38-549-516 ext. 3241; GSM 377-44-153 565; fax 381-38-549-890. ¶2. Post will coordinate arrangements for overland travel with Amembassy Belgrade. Post will also make arrangements for transportation for official meetings during the visit. Accommodations have been confirmed at Hotel Victory, Tel# 038/543 277; www.hotel-victory.com. The Hotel Victory accepts cash only. The room rate is Euro 73.90 a night, including breakfast. ¶3. Kosovo is a cash (Euro) economy. There are a few operating ATMs. A few large stores and some hotels take credit cards. Not all ATMS are reliable and personnel should use normal ATM safety precautions. TDY personnel should bring sufficient cash or travelers' checks to cover all hotel and other incidental expenses and may exchange dollars for Euros from 9:00am-11:30am and 1:00pm-3:30pm each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and 9:00am-11:30am each Thursday at the U.S. Office cashier. Only USOP accepts travelers' checks. Reverse accommodation is available at the end of the visit. ¶4. Security issues: The security situation in Kosovo is fluid and there is still risk from occasional episodes of violence; incidents of ethnic violence continue to occur. Land mines remain in some outlying areas. Civil society institutions generally do not yet meet Western standards. There is criminal activity against internationals, including purse snatching and residential break-ins and general precautions are recommended. KFOR is deployed throughout Kosovo. ¶5. Travel to certain areas within Kosovo province requires fully armored vehicles and advance RSO approval. To facilitate planning, please provide travel itinerary to USOP in advance of arrival, as same-day travel can be difficult to arrange. To provide appropriate access to USOP facilities, visitors must ensure all necessary security clearances are included with travel messages. ¶6. Please ensure ASEC tags are included to ensure proper distribution. Specific questions regarding security may be addressed to USOP's RSO or your control officer. GOLDBERG